It was a little electronic box that would, under certain engine speeds, open up the vacuum signal to the distributor and make it an open bleed. This would lean out the fuel mixture and cause the ignition timing to retard, supposedly reducing NOx emissions. Some carbureted cars back in the '70s had junk like this from the factory, I'm pretty sure Hondas did.

Apparently the state of CA required them to be retrofitted on pre-1970 cars for a while in the late '70s. It's odd to see one on a '78 Benz, but, maybe because it's a Euro model, the state made them add it.

It was a little electronic box that would, under certain engine speeds, open up the vacuum signal to the distributor and make it an open bleed. This would lean out the fuel mixture and cause the ignition timing to retard, supposedly reducing NOx emissions. Some carbureted cars back in the '70s had junk like this from the factory, I'm pretty sure Hondas did.

Apparently the state of CA required them to be retrofitted on pre-1970 cars for a while in the late '70s. It's odd to see one on a '78 Benz, but, maybe because it's a Euro model, the state made them add it.

Air Quality Products, Inc. has applied for accreditation of its Pure Power-Electro-NOx device for 1966-70 model-year class (athrough f) vehicles. The evaluation of the complete applicationis being delayed pending completion of the applicant'saccreditation test program. Air Quality Products has requestedthat the engine size classes be evaluated as the data becomesavailable. As reported at the January 22 Board meeting, theExecutive Officer acting under the Board's authority accreditedthe Pure Power-Electro-NOx device for class (d, e and f) vehicleson January 13, 1975. This report is the staff evaluation of AirQuality Product's class (a) vehicle application for this device.The Pure Power-Electro-NOx device is a VSAD-type device with anair bleed. An electronic engine speed sensor and a solenoidvalve provide NOx control at speeds less than 57 mph bypreventing the distributor vacuum advance mechanism fromresponding to carburetor vacuum and allowing bleed air to enterthe engine. The applicants data, confirmed by ARB laboratorytests, show the device meets the accreditation procedures; thestaff recommends accreditation.

Interesting stuff... The year on the W123's label clearly says 1978.

Leonardo - Team Post-Killing NinjaFizzy - Team My Little Pony

Originally Posted by Jrod511

If I could do one thing with a DeLorean it would be to give Vad's parents a condom.

Originally Posted by Sledge

Do you want to be known as the guy who makes worse automotive decisions than VadGTI?

Cool! Well, the headlights should have been the square units for the range topper 280 IIRC. Still looks like a clean example.

Back in the era before importing cars became nearly impossible, you still had to swap over certain parts, like headlights. They were probably retrofitted to US style lights by the importer, with the euro lights sold off or maybe even tossed. I'm sure back in '78 it would've been tougher to find H4s; they weren't legal in the US for passenger cars (in "HB2" form) until '92.

Back in the era before importing cars became nearly impossible, you still had to swap over certain parts, like headlights. They were probably retrofitted to US style lights by the importer, with the euro lights sold off or maybe even tossed. I'm sure back in '78 it would've been tougher to find H4s; they weren't legal in the US for passenger cars (in "HB2" form) until '92.

The Euro bumpers threw me off. I hear you about the need to retrofit DOT approved lights on the grey market imports, however lights over bumpers makes no sense to me...

The lights do look like US/NA Spec W123 ones, the E-Code round lights were way different:

LOVE those cloth seats, and the crazy rear reading light. Cloth seats, manual sunroof, simple A/C system, super clean, I think I'm in love. If it had power windows and cruise control I would probably hock my grandmother to go pick it up.

Originally Posted by Swallow Doretti

You bitches fight more than a bunch of high school girls at the clearance rack of the local Forever 21.

I have other uses for that light. sweet idea though. i might do this in my next car

Originally Posted by TheDarkEnergist

Welcome. This is where, when you put air ride on an overweight all wheel drive sedan, you've ruined a race car. And when you put nothing but functional aero parts on a car to turn it into a strictly race-prepped car, you've ruined a perfectly good NSX that could've easily been transformed into an overweight all wheel drive sedan. Racecar.